What is one of the primary functions of wireless local area networks in healthcare settings?

Wireless local area networks (WLANs) play a crucial role in healthcare settings by enabling real-time access to patient records from central databases. This functionality is vital for healthcare providers who need immediate access to a patient's medical history, treatment plans, and other critical information while moving throughout the facility. WLANs eliminate the constraints of wired connections, allowing for mobility and flexibility in how healthcare professionals interact with data.

Accessing patient records wirelessly supports timely decision-making and enhances collaboration among clinical staff, ultimately leading to better patient outcomes. By ensuring that medical personnel can retrieve and update information as needed—whether at a patient’s bedside, in a consultation room, or during rounds—WLANs enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare delivery.

While storing patient records locally, performing remote surgeries, and facilitating billing are important aspects of healthcare operations, they do not directly leverage the primary functions of WLANs, which are fundamentally about connectivity and access.